A section of youths in Uganda behind the flopped Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 “march to parliament” protest have accused Agatha Atuhaire, a renowned social media activist, of under-declaring and swindling funds sent to her to finance the preparation of the protest.
In a surprising twist of fate, the very anti-corruption campaigners entrusted to deliver the protests have succumbed to the allure of corruption themselves after mobilizers of the march to parliament pocketed money that was meant to help in the mobilization and other activities of the anti-corruption protest that started on July 23, 2024.
A source among the organizers of the failed protest has revealed that activists who are part of the team organizing the protest have pinned Agatha for understating the money she is receiving from several funders to facilitate the demonstration.
“Agatha has turned this demonstration into a money-making venture; she is receiving money to help with the demonstration, but she has not given a single coin to any of the mobilizers. Even those who needed legal help and medical aid were not supported at all,” said one of the angry mobilizers.
Media reports indicate that Agatha, through her NGO Agora, has been receiving money from several embassies in Western countries to facilitate the protest in Uganda.
However, the protesters alleged that the misuse of resources by Agatha has not only compromised the effectiveness of the protest but also cast a dark shadow over the credibility of the entire anti-corruption movement.
On Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024, Agatha through her x-handle hosted a space in which she mobilized an undisclosed huge amount of money purportedly to facilitate the protestors and possible legal costs.
The plain contrast between her public persona as a crusader against corruption and the allegations of financial misconduct has left many questioning the sincerity of her commitment and is a true reflection of an adage: “When the Hunter Gets Hunted.”
What began as a beacon of hope for fighting corruption in Uganda has now plunged into a marsh of betrayal and hypocrisy, leaving supporters disheartened and the cause they championed tainted by the very vice they sought to eradicate.
Supporters and activists who tagged along with Agatha are now grappling with feelings of betrayal and disbelief, since many had invested not just their time and effort but also their hopes for a fairer and more transparent society.
Who is Agatha Atuhaire?
She is a former journalist at the Uganda Radio Network news agency (funded by DGF) and later worked with the Independent Magazine.
She is a known beneficiary of adversary activities by many foreign groups and was recently awarded by the European Union for her bravery in fighting corruption in Uganda. She was one of the brains behind the parliamentary exhibitions.
